Heating apparatus.



1. W. F. MACDONALD.

HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 19):.

' 1,278,067. PatentedSept. 3,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

,J. W. F. MACDONALD.

HEATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC- 1917.

1,278,067. Patented Sept. 3,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. 1019 heeeeameu JAM ATES

JOHN W. F. MACDONALD, OF BRIGHTON MASSAGHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERRILL Elli PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HEATING APPARATUS.

T 0 all whom it may oncern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. F. Mao- DONALD, a citizen of the United States, re-. siding at Brighton, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

This invention has reference to an improved apparatus for effecting the circulation of a viscous heat receiving medium from the point or machine at which heat is supplied to and absorbed by said medium and the point or machine at which such absorbed heat is or may be radiated or utilized.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide for the exigencies which may occur in a heating apparatus having a system of piping of considerable length through which heat carrying medium of a viscosity varying with its temperature is mechanically circulated between a point of heat absorption and a point of heat radiation or heat utilization.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelpumping unit for heating apparatus of the nature herein described.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention consists in the novel pipe or conduit system having connections by means of which the circuit through whi h the heat carrying medium travels may be changed with relation to the points of heat absorption or heat utilization either or-both.

The invention also consists in the improved heating apparatus having the novel pump unit furnished with the by-pass con-- duits adapted from their shape and construction to be economically manufactured and installed and to accommodate themselves to unequal expansion or contraction of connected parts.

The invention also consists in the means to connect the arms of the conduit circuit at the working or heat radiating side ofthe circuit relative to the pump.

The invention also consists in such other novel features of construction and combina- Specification of Letters Patent.

tion of parts as shall hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, represents a side elevation of the improved apparatus parts of the same being broken away. Fig. 2, represents a plan view of parts of the same.

Fig. 3, represents a sectional view of parts g f tlie apparatus as taken on line 3-3 Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

In carrying this invention into actual practice one of the primary. objects to be attained is the delivery of heat, usuallv at a temperature above 212 F. but at a temperature that may be predetermined and dependable, within slight variations, at a point distant from the source of said heat. In the transportation and utilization of heat by the circulation of liquid through conduits to provide predetermined dependable temperatures at points distant from th source of heat, it is found that the heat transporting medium must be of a heat retaining nature distinguished by its density from water, steam or gases. In the apparatus herein described, after considerable experimentation, it has been found desirable, if not essential, to make use of a Viscous liquid having a consistenc at F. somewhat greater than thiek molasses. Under temperatures as high as 100 F. this liquid has a tendency to adhere to the wall of the conduit and to so clog said conduit that it would be extremely diflicult to effect circulation of the liquid through a conduit of any considerable length wholly filled with the liquid. The operation upon and the control of the liquid in its circulation to various parts of the apparatus is therefore of considerable importance and will be more fully understood by reference to the operation of the new apparatus.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings 5 indicates a heater of any kind having the pipe or conduit 6 exposed to heat in said heater 5 and adapted to receive liquid from an exterior conduit Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Application filed December 1, 1917. Serial No. 204,946.

through the conduit 6' and the chamber of valve 7 and to deliver liquid, after its subjection to heat, through conduit 62, to the exterior conduit 8 through the pipe member 9 and the chamber of valve 10. Member 9 preferably has the thermometer 11 adapted to register the temperature of liquid contained in or passing through said member 9 and this member 9 also has the small pipe 12 having the air inlet valve 13 and the automatically acting relief valve 1 1 both of any well known construction. Conduit 8 communicates through the T pipe connection 15 with the conduit section 16 having the valve 17 and with the conduit sections 18 and 19, the latterof which may be any pipe or conduit located at the point at which radiation of heat is intended to occur or said conduit may constitute a part of or be related to any machine or device by means of which heat supplied from liquid within said conduit 19 is adapted to be utilized for any purpose.

Radiator conduit section 19 communicates through the chamber of valve 20 with the T pipe connection 21 which has the upstanding expansion pipe 22 having the T pipe connection 23 communicating with the chamber 24, of the pressure relief valve 25, which chamber 24 is connected with the pipe fitting 15 whereby undue pressure in that arm of the conduit circuit having such fit- I ting 15 may be automatically relieved by the opening of valve 25 to open a passage to fitting 23 and expansion pipe 22. This pipe 22 is connected by the pipe 26 with the expansion tank 27 located at a suitable distance above the pipe fitting 23 depending upon the degree of static pressure which it is desired to maintain in pipe 22, to act on liquid in or passing through the pipe fitting 21.

Pipe fitting 21 connects through the chamber of the valve 28 with the conduit member 29 of the pump unit which latter includes said member 29, the pump chamber 30, preferably connected with said mem ber 29 by the strainer chamber 31, the conduit header 32 connected with the chamber of valve 7 and having the curved by-pass pipes 83 and 34 which, respectively, are connected by valves 35 and 36 with the pipe 37 upstanding from said conduit member 29.

Conduit member 29 connects with the liquid supply pipe 38, which maybe of an suitable size and is connected with a tan or other source of supply of material adapted to be used in this a paratus. This supply pipe 38 has the s ut-ofi valve 39 and may have the pump 10 which latter is however not necessary under ordinary condi tions as will hereafter be explained.

The circulating system is'constituted by the several conduits and their connections navaoev but said circulating system may, for some purposes, be considered as comprised of the heating unit, the supply and return arms of the circulating system, the heat radiating or utilization unit, the pumping unit and the static pressure and expansion unit and them relation. This circulating system is filled with the viscous liquid above described which preferably has a boiling point above 212 F. and which at, ordinary atmospheric temperatures can be circulated with difficulty through the system owing to the excessive pipe friction. Such filling may be accomplished by supplying the liquid through the expansion tank 27 and the pipe 22, or by drawing or forcing the liquid into the system through pipe 38. i

With the system of conduits filled with the liquid the operation of circulating the liquid through the system, at atmospheric temperature, by means of the pump 30 would be extremely difiicult and an attempt to accomplish this result would probably result in overloading the pump and might cause damageto the system. To overcome such resistance valve 35 is opened, and pump 30 is started whereupon the liquid is forced to circulate through the pump chamber, and thence through pipe 38, valve 35, pipe 37 and conduit member 29 back to the pump chamber 30. This cycle of circulation is so short that the discharge side of the pump is not overloaded but a circulation of the liquid is effected which gradually overcomes its frictional resistance. At a suitable stage in the operation heat may be supplied to the heater 5 and some of such heat eventually is absorbed by the liquid in the conduit 6 wherebv the viscosity of such liquid is gradually reduced. When the liquid in conduit 6 has become sutficiently heated valve 35 is closed and the operation of pump 30 will cause the circulation of the heated liquid through conduits 8, 16 and 18 to the radiator or machine 19 where heat from said liquid will be radiated or utilized for some purpose. From said radiator or machine 19 the spent liquid will return through the pipe fitting 21 and other connections to the pump 30 and in the course of its movement or circulation from the point or machine of utilization (19) to such pump this column of liquid is subjected to the static pressure of the column of liquid in pipe 22 which supplies deficiencies in said returning column of liquid and also permits the escape, through pipe 22 of gas, air or some of the impurities of the liquid.

If the connection for pipe 22 was placed between the radiator (19) and the heater 5 or at a considerable distance from the pump 30 there would be a tendency to starve the pump as the circulating (viscous) liquid column would not ordinarily keep upa sufficient supply to equal that displaced by the pump, therefore the efficiency of the circulation would be reduced.

By-pass 34: having the relief valve 36, controlling the passage of liquid to pipe 37 and conduit member 29, is provided in order to protect the pump 30. If for any reason the path of the liquid through the conduit 6.

of the heater 5 should become obstructed, for example, should either of valves 7 or 10 be left unintentionally closed and the pump 30 be operated there would be no Zoutlet for-discharge of liquid under pressure in the conduit section 32 and as a result of the constantly increasing pressure some part of the apparatus ultimately might be damaged. Relief valve 36 is adjusted to operate under a pressure well within a limit of safety so that when the pressure in by-pass 34 reaches the point at which said valve is 9 :8 this valve 36 will open and permit a flow back to the suction side of the pump 30.

The by asses 33 and 34 are constituted by curved pipes arranged and connected so that they may ex and and contract without undue strain to themselves or to their connections in either a vertical or horizontal direction.

Sh ould valves 17 and 20 or either of them be left unintentionally closed or should the pressure in the conduit of the radiator or machine 19 become excessive relief valve 25 will automatically open a passage from conduit section 8 to the expansion pipe 22 through its connection--23.

As above stated the viscous liquid may be supplied to the circulating system either from the expansion tank 27 or through the pipe 38. In the latter case valve 28 is partially'or wholly closed and valve 39 is o ened whereupon the suction of pump 30, in its operation, will effect the drawing into conduit member 29 of liquid from said pipe 38. If it is desired to draw a supplemental supply of the liquid into the system from said pipe 38 when the system of conduits is partially filled with such liquid valve 28 should preferably be only partly closed.

The location of the connection of pipe 38 in drawing into the conduit liquid from said pipe 38 as the connection of this pipe 38- is nearer said pump 30 than is pipe 22 and consequently liquid in said pipe 38 will be more subject to the suction of said pump 30. It is also desirable to so locate such connection means, and returning to said heater, and

means to mechanically circulate liquid in said conduit toward said heater, said conduit having means to short circuit said liquid around said circulating means to avoid passage of said liquid through said heater under predetermined conditions.

2. A heating. apparatus for utilizing heat of a. traveling body of viscous liquid comprising a heater, a' heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said means and returning to said heater, a bypass connected at its ends with the returning member of said main conduit, and a pump between the ends of said by-pass to operate on liquid in said main conduit.

3. A heating apparatus for utilizin heat of a traveling body of viscous liqui comprising a heater, ,a heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said means andreturning to said heater, 9. pump operating on the liquid-in the return member of said conduit at a point adjacent said heater, and a by-pass connected with said sides of said pump.

4. A heatingapparatus for utilizing heat means and returning to said heater, a pump unit having a pump :barrel constituting part of-Said conduit, a pipe extending at an angle from said conduit at one side of said pump, and a pair of valved curved pipes communicating with said pipe and with said conduit.

6. A heating apparatus for utilizing heat of a traveling body of viscous "liquid comprising a heater, a heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said means and'returning to said heater, a pump unit having a pump barrel constituting part of said conduit, a pipe extending at an angle from said conduit at one side of said um and a curved pipe communicating wit sa1d pipe and with said conduit, said curved pipe having a relief valve.

7. A heating apparatus for utilizing heat of a traveling body of viscous liquid comprising a heater, a heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said means and returning to said heater, a pump connected with said return member of said conduit at a point adjacent said heater, an expansion pipe connected directly with the return member of said conduit at the suction side of said pump, and a relief valve having its casing communicating with the other member of said conduit between said heater and heat utilizing means.

8. A heating apparatus for utilizing heat of a traveling body of viscous liquid comprising a heater, a heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said means and returning to said heater, a pump connected in the return member of said conduit at a point adjacent said heater, an expansion pipe connected with said return member of said conduit at the suction side of said pump, and a valve located in said return member of said conduit between said expansion pipe and said pump.

9. A heating apparatus for utilizing heat of a traveling body of viscous liquid comprising a heater, a heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said meansand returning to said heater, a pump connected in the return member of said conduit at a point adjacent said heater, an exparapet pension pipe connected with said return member of said conduit at the suction side of the pump, a valve located in said return member of said conduit between said expansion pipe and said pump, and a liquid supply pipe communicating with said conduit at a point between said valve and said pump,

10, A heating apparatus for utilizing heat of a, traveling body of viscous liquid comprising a heater, heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said means and returning to said heater, a pump unit constituting a part of the return member of said conduit and having an upstanding pipe at the suction side of the pump connectedwith the conduit at the pressure side of said pump by a pair of curved pipes having valves, and a valve in said conduit between said curved pipes and said heater,

11. A heating apparatus for utilizing heat of a traveling body of viscous liquid comprising a heater, a heat utilizing means, a conduit extending from said heater to said means and returning to said heater, a pump connected in the return member of said conduit, means to supply additional liquid to said return member of said conduit at the suction side of the pump, and means whereby the liquid in said pump and a part of said additional supply may be returned from the pressure side of said pump to its suction side without entering said heater.

JOHN W, F. MACDONALD. 

